ALLEN PARK -- Coming off a disappointing 4-12 season, the Detroit Lions are seeking more leadership on the field and in the locker room. The first place everyone is looking is at the quarterback position.

Matthew Stafford just turned 25 years old, but entering his fifth season, he's embracing the idea that the Lions are his team.

"Yeah, absolutely," Stafford said. "I'm a year older, I've been through it that much longer, and I think guys on the team understand that and respond to it. It's been nice moving in that direction."

On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Stephen Tulloch believes he's capable of filling the void created after the Lions released three-time captain Kyle Vanden Bosch.

Known for his intensity, passion and work ethic, Vanden Bosch set the tone every day in the weight room and on the practice field. Tulloch is ready to be that guy.

"I've been around this game a long time," Tulloch said. "I've always wanted to do that. Kyle was the guy I always looked up to, so I let him do his thing. It's time for me to take that role on and lead by example off the field and on the field and put things together."

The Lions also added several key veterans this offseason who are expected to provide additional leadership.

Running back Reggie Bush brings a championship pedigree to Detroit and the seven-year vet is eager to impart his knowledge to his younger teammates.

"I definitely feel I can bring a certain level of leadership and experience to this team, especially to the running back group," Bush said. "Hopefully I can help some of those young guys, just kind of bring them along, help mold their games and help them be better players."

Another player coach Jim Schwartz believes is ready to step up as a leader is defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

"He's been working very hard, and I don't want to say waiting for that opportunity, but when he came in as a rookie, he came in to a group that had a lot of veteran players," Schwartz said. "Guys like Corey Williams, Kyle Vanden Bosch and even Cliff Avril was a young veteran, guys that had a lot of experience in the league.

"(Suh) did a good job learning behind those guys, but now that he's a young veteran, it's time for him and a lot of other guys to start showing that leadership."

A human wrecking ball on the interior of the defensive line, Suh plays with a ferocious intensity between the lines, but he generally keeps to himself off the field. Tulloch isn't sure Suh will ever develop into a vocal leader, but considering what he brings to the table every Sunday, the veteran linebacker is okay with that.

"I can't get mad at him," Tulloch said. "He can be as quiet as he wants. He's a dominant player, one of the most dominant defensive tackles I've been around. He doesn't say much, very business-like person, but as a player, he's definitely well-respected and comes to work every day at practice."

Curiously, another free-agent acquisition, defensive end Jason Jones, didn't list Suh as a player expected to take charge in the defensive line room now that Vanden Bosch, Williams and Avril are no longer with the team.

"Me, C.J. Mosley and Willie (Young), we've been in the league a good minute now, so we're going to, as a collective group, be the leaders in that room," Jones said.

Mosley, 29, is another free agent signing. As an eight-year veteran, he is the elder statesman on the defensive line.